In the remote regions of Chad, where infrastructure is limited and security concerns are prevalent, Dr. Felix Amate is dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable children are not overlooked. As a consultant for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), he supports the Measles & Rubella Country Platform. Dr. Amate navigates some of the world's most challenging environments with a singular focus on equity.

The American Red Cross plays a crucial role in the Country Platform as both a primary funder and a coordinating partner at IFRC headquarters. Two staff members from the American Red Cross have been assigned to the IFRC to help manage the platform, identify priority areas, recruit consultants, and coordinate deployments. Dr. Amate was the first consultant to be deployed through this platform, supporting the measles vaccination campaign in Chad.

“Their commitment, often in difficult conditions, shows what is possible when people unite around a shared goal: protecting children’s health,” Dr. Amate told the American Red Cross.

His role involves both strategic planning and on-the-ground coordination. He is one of many Red Cross representatives worldwide supporting the rollout of measles and measles-rubella vaccination campaigns. This work encompasses the entire lifecycle of a public health initiative, including planning, monitoring, reporting and providing technical assistance.

“The platform helps ensure that vaccination campaigns are designed to reach children who are most likely to be missed due to geography, insecurity, access barriers or social factors,” Dr. Amate said. “By prioritizing equity, we help countries protect the children who need these vaccines the most.”

Beyond logistics, Dr. Amate also helps coordinate educational materials so communities can better understand how to identify these diseases and why vaccination is critical to stopping their spread. To achieve this, he works closely with national and subnational stakeholders to develop key messages and training materials. He supports readiness assessments to ensure that preparations are on track and that the campaign launches on time.

In parts of the region, measles and rubella cases can reach hundreds or more during outbreaks. Dr. Amate explains that many people living in remote areas may not fully understand how contagious measles is, or that rubella can cause severe birth defects if an expecting mother becomes infected. What makes this reality especially heartbreaking, he notes, is that both diseases are preventable.

“They may also not know that two doses of the measles or measles-rubella vaccine, given at the recommended intervals, provide lifelong protection,” he said. “These diseases are preventable with safe, effective vaccines, yet outbreaks continue when immunity gaps persist.”

The true payoff comes in moments that data alone cannot be captured. It is the sight of a child receiving protection for the first time. The knowledge that a single vaccine can prevent lifelong complications, or even save a life, particularly in communities that are remote or hesitant due to lack of information.

“Seeing children, especially those in their second year of life, receive the measles vaccine for the very first time is incredibly moving,” Dr. Amate shared. “It’s a reminder that behind every data point is a child whose future is being protected. Those moments reinforce why this work matters.”